Master Xuecheng’s Multilingual Microblog

On August 14th the Italian version of the multilingual microblog of the President of the Buddhist Association of China, Venerable Master Xuecheng, was officially launched. This marks the 13th language addition to Master Xuecheng’s microblog following English, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Mongolian. According to Master Xuecheng, the ideal of coexistence of civilizations is dependent upon open dialogue and peaceful interaction among cultures and peoples. The purpose of the multilingual microblog is to build a friendly interactive platform to be accessed by international communities.

On August 14th the Italian version of the multilingual microblog of the President of the Buddhist Association of China, Venerable Master Xuecheng, was officially launched. This marks the 13th language addition to Master Xuecheng’s microblog following English, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Mongolian. According to Master Xuecheng, the ideal of coexistence of civilizations is dependent upon open dialogue and peaceful interaction among cultures and peoples. The purpose of the multilingual microblog is to build a friendly interactive platform to be accessed by international communities.

On the morning of August 14th, the superintendent of Longquan Monastery Ven. Xianjian, the director of the Translation Center Ven. Wuguang, the executive director of International Dharma Affairs Ven. Xianqing, the former senior Italian translator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Beijing Foreign Studies University Prof. Xuefeng, Mrs. Giulia from China Radio International, together with over 200 multilingual volunteers and Buddhist believers witnessed the opening ceremony. Bathed in auspicious blessings, volunteers of the multilingual microblogs staged a performance called “the heritage and blessing of thirteen languages,” and played a video compiling the blessings of volunteers living in Italy and other areas outside of Beijing during the opening ceremony.

One volunteer of the Italian microblog, Zheng Yi, remarked: "The strenuous work of the past two years on Shifu’s Italian microblog has finally born fruit. I am so excited. I have to especially thank Shifu and the other Venerables for entrusting me with the opportunity to use this platform to find new direction in my life. I am grateful for the strong incubation team and the wisdom and power the Three Jewels have brought us."

In line with contemporary circumstances, Ven. Master Xuecheng has utilized modern technologies to promote the spreading of Buddhist teachings. In 2009, the first microblog was opened in Chinese. In 2011, the microblog consisted of eight language versions and developed into today’s microblog that synchronizes publications in thirteen languages, with an audience of over one million. At the same time, monks of Longquan monastery led volunteers from home and abroad to develop a five language version of the website “Voice of Longquan,” namely Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese and Russian. Such Wechat accounts as "Longquan International" (LQI), "the Voice of Longquan", "Longquan Comics", "Xian'er, the Robot Monk" are among the modern platforms providing foreign language speakers around the world an opportunity to understand and learn about orthodox Chinese Buddhism and splendid Chinese traditional culture.

The microblog and blog of Ven. Master Xuecheng has reported that Longquan Monastery has set up Buddhist study groups in Italy. At the end of last year, the Italian branch of the World Conference on Religion and Peace led a delegation of its members, including Catholic believers, to visit Longquan. Longquan delegations and Chinese monks have also actively promoted Buddhist teachings in Italy. Now through the microblog of Master Xuecheng and LQI WeChat, Italian speakers have access to accurate and detailed information about the activities of Chinese Buddhist monasteries, updates on Chinese Buddhism, and have been able to deepen their understanding and learning of splendid Chinese traditional culture.

As an ancient country and the origin of the renaissance, Italy spread its impact beyond the coastal areas of the Mediterranean to the European, Asian and African continents. It was the destination of the ancient silk road and is the intersection of the one belt and one road initiative of the new age. The opening of the Italian version of the microblog of Ven. Master Xuecheng has created a new window and opportunity for religious communication and interaction between Italy and China. It has built a bridge of dialogue between two ancient civilizations that are eager for revival and communication.

Along with the spread of Chinese culture around the globe, the international Dharma spreading initiative of Longquan Monastery has been evolving relentlessly. Since the opening of Lonquan Great Compassion Monastery in the Netherlands in 2015, Beijing Longquan Monastery has established Chinese Buddhist sites in Botswana, Africa and in the U.S. Ven. Master Xuecheng has been leading his disciples to spread ancient Buddhist teachings that accommodate the lifestyles of modern people by building actual Buddhist sites as well as virtual online platforms. Committed to cross borders, cross languages, cross religions, and cross cultural communication, the monastery provides the spiritual nourishment of Chinese cultural origins to people around the world.